At least 21 people are murdered as a bus falls from a bridge in Venice, Italy

Tuesday’s methane-powered bus crash in Venice that resulted in at least 21 fatalities—including two children and international tourists—and several injuries.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said on Facebook that “a tragedy has befallen our community this evening” and called the accident site “an apocalyptic scene.”

The governor of the Venice area, Luca Zaia, lamented a “tragedy of enormous proportions,” stating that “the provisional toll is at least 21 fatalities and more than 20 people hospitalized.”

The corpses are being removed and being identified, he added. Not just Italians but citizens of other countries are among the dead and injured.

German and French people were among the deaths, according to Italian news agency ANSA and a city hall spokesman who stated the deceased included Ukrainian visitors.

According to a local official speaking to AFP, among the wounded were three Ukrainians, a Croatian, German, and French national.

Around 7:30 pm (1730 GMT), the accident happened as the bus was traveling back from a campground to Venice’s old city.

According to firefighters, the bus caught fire after veering off a bridge that over a railroad track and connected the cities of Mestre and Marghera in northern Italy.

An AFP photographer saw firefighters scurrying about the burned-out wreckage of the car while it was lying on its top.

Before moving the car to look for other casualties, the firefighters waited for the battery to cool.

Sincere sympathies

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, sent her “profound condolences”.

In a statement, she added, “I am in touch with mayor Luigi Brugnaro and (Transport) Minister Matteo Salvini to follow the news of this tragedy.

Salvini said that the driver’s unexpected illness or condition might have contributed to the disaster.

The bus drove off the bridge, smashed through the barrier, and crashed on railroad lines some 30 meters (100 feet) below, according to the Corriere della Sera daily.

According to the publication, it took fire after colliding with some electricity wires.

Methane, according to interior minister Matteo Piantedosi, was the “aggravating factor” in the fire’s quick spread.

He said, “I worry that the death toll will go up.

The Venetian patriarch Francesso Moraglia was present at the location where he blessed the deceased, who were wrapped in white shrouds and decorated with bouquets of red roses.

Both European Union President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their sympathy.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her “deep sorrow” at the tragic bus accident. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and friends at this difficult time.

A representative for the German foreign ministry told AFP that the German embassy in Rome was coordinating with the Italian government to determine if any German citizens were among the casualties.

In July 2018, a bus bringing 50 vacationers returning to Naples crashed off a nearby overpass, killing a total of 40 people.